March 7 Hearing-West Hawaii Civic Center 9 am-Your Help Needed

On March 7, 2017, at 9:00 am at the West Hawaii Civic Center, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture will hold a public hearing on its proposal to extend the “sunset date” for the current grade standards. If the HDOA’s proposed amendments are not adopted, the current standards will expire or “sunset” on June 30, 2017. The current grade standards were put in place in to assist coffee farmers while CBB mitigation measures are developed. Under the HDOA proposed amendments the current standards—which provide economic benefit to farmers by significantly increasing the quantity of our coffee that can be labeled as “Kona”—will remain in place through June 30, 2021.

Please provide in-person testimony or written testimony in support of the HDOA proposal. To review the HDOA’s Notice of Public Hearing and information on submitting testimony, click HEREfor all information